Print & craft
At Black and White Baba, the photograph is only half the work. The print is where permanence is earned.
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In an age where most images exist only on screens, this practice is rooted in the belief that portraits meant to hold memory must also hold material presence. Every commissioned portrait is printed slowly, by hand, using archival alternative processes chosen for their longevity, depth, and tactile quality.
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These are not reproductions. They are objects meant to endure.
Why printing matters
A portrait gains meaning over time only if it physically survives time.
Handcrafted printing allows for:
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Archival longevity measured in decades, not years
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Tonal depth beyond digital output
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Subtle imperfections that affirm human touch
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Prints that age with dignity rather than degrade
For legacy portraits, printing is not an add-on, it is integral to the work.
The printing processes
Cyanotype
A historic photographic process known for its matte surface and quiet tonal transitions. Cyanotypes offer a restrained, meditative quality and are valued for their stability, depth, and handcrafted character.
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Gum bichromate
A layered, painterly process that allows nuanced tonal control. Each print is built slowly through multiple hand-applied layers, resulting in subtle variations that cannot be replicated mechanically.
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Gum oil
A refined, tactile printing process that combines photographic precision with hand-applied ink. The image is developed through controlled contact and pressure, producing rich tonal depth, soft transitions, and a distinctly physical presence. Each gum oil print carries visible evidence of the maker’s hand, making every print singular.
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Platinum palladium
Considered among the most archival photographic processes available. Platinum palladium prints are prized for their luminous highlights, deep shadows, and exceptional longevity, often measured in centuries.
Each process is selected based on the portrait’s intent, not convenience.
In-house printing
All printing at Black and White Baba is done in-house.
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This ensures:
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Complete control over tonal interpretation
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Consistency between photograph and final object
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No outsourcing of critical craft decisions
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Direct involvement of the photographer-printer
The same hands that create the portrait oversee its final form.
Certificates and permanence
Each final print is accompanied by a signed certificate of authenticity detailing:
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Printing process
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Paper type
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Date of creation
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Care guidelines
This establishes the portrait as a crafted artifact, not a disposable image.
Commissioned work vs personal practice
The printing processes described here serve two distinct bodies of work.
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Black and White Baba exists exclusively for private, commissioned portrait experiences, created in collaboration with individuals and families.
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Alongside this, I maintain a separate personal fine-art practice under my name, Karthik Samprathi, focused on long-term observational work and collectible fine-art prints.
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While the philosophy and craft inform each other, the bodies of work remain intentionally separate. Collectors interested in acquiring fine-art prints from my independent personal practice may explore it separately.
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Craft takes time. Permanence requires restraint.
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Every print created at Black and White Baba is made with the understanding that it may one day outlive the person in the photograph. That responsibility is taken seriously.
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If you are considering a commissioned portrait and wish to understand how printing shapes the final work, this can be discussed during a private consultation.